City’s ongoing efforts to tackle homelessness and clean-up ecampments is becoming a community wide success
In response to public concerns about homelessness and the growing number of encampments throughout Folsom, I am happy to report that the City Council took real action last year that has made a big impact and created tangible positive results.
The commitment to clean up the encampments on city property was a top priority. The Folsom Police Department was given the resources it needed to form the Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) and Chief Rick Hillman took immediate action to establish the team in July 2024. They quickly set out to tackle the existing and growing illegal encampments to ensure that public spaces were safe and clean for residents.
During a series of site tours of the largest encampments last summer with our newly formed HOT team, I sought to gain a deeper understanding of the situation, as well as to hear directly from the HOT team about any obstacles they were facing. One significant barrier quickly became apparent: the Folsom Police Department’s inability to enforce city ordinances on properties owned by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). Without an agreement in place, Folsom Police Officers lacked the legal authority to enforce no trespassing laws on state-owned land.
Recognizing the need for collaboration among different agencies, I reached out to Assemblyman Josh Hoover to arrange a meeting with myself, CDFW officials, Folsom’s Chief Hillman and the head of our HOT team Sgt Mendenhall. This meeting, held in September 2024, proved to be a pivotal moment in addressing the complex issue. It was agreed that a solution was needed to both protect the environment and provide a pathway for safely removing encampments, while also ensuring that individuals experiencing homelessness had access to help and services they needed.
While the legalities of the state properties were being worked out, the HOT team made significant strides on their own city-owned property. Thanks to the team’s diligent efforts, encampments on city property have been successfully cleaned up.
Over 40 encampments were removed, including a dozen or more large ones, with 17 individuals being housed and off the streets. This now allows the HOT team to quickly address pop-up camps and prevent further encampments from forming and speaks to the success of this effort.
However, the challenge on state-owned land persists. As the encampments on CDFW property grew in size and number, the issue became more complex. The cost of removing the large encampments at that time—over $35,000 for just three sites—was a point of concern. But just in the last two weeks, a legal agreement was finally reached between the City of Folsom and CDFW allowing Folsom’s HOT team to enforce our cities ordinances. In collaboration with Fish and Wildlife, they immediately took action.
One notable success came last Friday when a highly visible encampment near the TRIX Children’s Gymnastics facility was completely cleaned up. This particular encampment, though smaller, was a source of concern for the community, especially parents of children attending the nearby gym. The cleanup, led by the Folsom Police Department was a clear demonstration of the collaborative effort between local and state agencies. To further restore the area, a CDFW biologist has already visited the site to devise and implement a rehabilitation plan, which includes natural preventive measures to ensure that no one returns to the area in the future. Further helping to ensure the preservation of the progress made.
The impact of this cleanup was immediate and profound. Parents and gym owners alike have expressed their gratitude for the improved safety and cleanliness in the area, and the cleanup efforts have been well-received by the broader community.
I reached out to the HOT team to get an update and tour of the remaining larger encampments on state owned property, one being behind Gekkeikan Sake. I invited Assemblyman Hoover and was joined by a representative from his office. We were escorted by Sgt. Mendenhall, Officer Brown, and Lieutenant Zelaya from the Folsom PD who led us through the encampments safely so we could understand the scale of what is left to be done.
Lieutenant Zelaya, who had previously led the Crime Suppression Unit, shared valuable insights into the longstanding challenges of securing legal agreements for trespassing enforcement. “I don’t think it’s understood the significance and magnitude of getting that no trespassing (602) legal agreement in place. This has been an issue for many years. This is a big deal.” he said.
During the tour, I witnessed firsthand the environmental damage caused by the encampments, including the degradation of creeks and vegetation. It’s clear that these encampments are not only a safety issue for the residents, a hot box for potential fires, but also pose a significant threat to our natural surroundings. While the cleanup of these remaining encampments will hopefully be managed by State, the collaboration with the Folsom Police Department remains crucial to maintaining the progress made thus far.
Sgt. Mendenhall emphasized the positive working relationship that has developed between the Folsom Police Department and CDFW. “They have been great partners and we talk almost daily. We want to give them the opportunity to take care of these remaining properties. We know they want to do the right thing and they know that we will come alongside them to maintain the clean up.” he said.
As your Councilmember I am grateful to articulate a sense of accomplishment in being able to help bring together local and state agencies to address this complex issue and support them where needed.
When I was elected in December 2022, it was clear that cleaning up encampments throughout Folsom was a priority for our residents. I am proud to see the collaboration between the State agencies and the Folsom Police Department come to fruition and to be a part of this positive change.
The ongoing efforts to clean up encampments and support those in need have been made possible by the dedication and hard work of the Folsom Police Department’s HOT team, the cities legal department, CDFW, Assemblyman Hoover and many others in the community. As this issue continues to evolve, Folsom remains committed to preserving its environment, ensuring public safety, and helping those experiencing homelessness connect with the services the county has to help them.
The progress made so far is a testament to the power of collaboration and the shared goal of creating a safer, cleaner, and compassionate community for all.
With heartfelt gratitude for all those who have continued to reach out to me who wanted something to change. I thank you for your patience while awaiting results.I am dedicated to serve the residents of Folsom.
Anna Rohrbough represents Folsom’s District 5 on City Council. She can be reached at AnnaR@folsom.ca.us. She authors and submits to the “Council Corner” commentary feature that is open to all elected Folsom City Council Members to engage with the community on various local topics. Folsom Times welcomes commentary from appointed city or government officials who submit for publication. Submissions are not solicited and the opinions expressed in such content is that of the author and not neccesarily the ownership or staff of Folsom Times, All Town Media and its stakeholders.